The common saying goes that life has four great joys: the wedding night, passing the imperial examinations, sweet rain after a long drought, and meeting an old friend in a foreign land.

However, on this particular night, perhaps a fifth joy should be added.

That would be “a prison break while imprisoned.”

Truly, there is nothing in this world more delightful than escaping from a desperate situation.

Looking around, the prison was full of people.

Many were awaiting trial or were death row prisoners who had committed serious crimes. Seeing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, they were all overjoyed with excitement, either vigorously shaking the still-locked cell doors on both sides or rushing out from inside shouting loudly.

A whole crowd, creating an imposing spectacle.

Most people were charging toward the outside of the imperial prison.

However, there were a few people still wearing prisoner’s clothing who hadn’t had time to change, abnormally going against the tide of people. They all gripped long blades in their hands, searching cell by cell.

These people clearly weren’t from Heaven Teach.

After looking at some cells, they didn’t linger, but for others, after asking who was inside, they either used their blades or keys taken from jailers to open the cell doors and release people.

But the further back they went, the deeper the anxiety in their expressions became.

Jiang Xuening was swept along by the crowd, also being pulled by Zhang Zhe’s hand. As they walked forward, she inadvertently looked up and discovered these abnormal few people.

She felt these people seemed to be looking for someone.

So her gaze couldn’t help but quietly follow them.

After turning past several more cells, the group suddenly saw something and shouted toward a cell in the middle.

At this moment when everyone was becoming agitated, a man was actually sitting quietly inside.

The filthy prisoner’s clothing on him, who knew how long it had gone without washing, was full of stains and bloodstains. A pair of feet casually spread apart with his legs, stepping on the cold ground, his torso leaning back against the ground behind him scattered with some straw cores, both wrists pressing against his knees, his palms hanging down from the front with palms facing downward.

A thick, sturdy chain locked his ankles.

His long hair, which hadn’t been tended to for quite some time, hung down loosely, obscuring his face.

As if he hadn’t heard the commotion outside at all, he hadn’t even taken a step outward.

Not until those few people came and called out to him did he raise his head.

The cell door was quickly opened.

The man stood up from the ground, his figure actually tall and burly. Without wasting words or needing help from those people, he bent down and reached out. Both hands forcefully gripped the iron chain locked on his feet and pulled. With only a clanging sound, the thick iron chain was forcibly twisted out of shape and suddenly broke, clearly showing the formidable strength of this person.

Jiang Xuening was still walking forward, but seeing this scene from afar, her eyelids jumped.

This prison cell was originally in chaos and clamor—no one should have time to pay attention to anyone else. Yet unexpectedly, that disheveled man seemed to sense something and actually raised his head at this instant, looking in Jiang Xuening’s direction.

Sharp eyes like a hawk’s flashed through the gaps in his disheveled hair.

Jiang Xuening’s back went cold. She only felt this gaze was filled with an indescribable indifference and cruelty—the kind of look that only vicious criminals who had licked blood from blade edges would have.

However, there was no time to examine it closely.

In just this moment, they had already turned the corner, reached the prison entrance, and surged outward together.

The soldiers escorting the Yongyi Marquis household had just left, and the prison guards were at their most relaxed moment. When the Heaven Teach members attacked, they were helpless. How could they have any strength to resist now? To protect their own lives, they all fought while retreating, and the blockade was easily breached!

On that quiet long road, Xie Wei’s carriage remained in place.

Before long, Daiqin, who had gone to investigate the news, returned.

Arriving before the carriage, she bowed and said: “Things are progressing smoothly. The prison has been breached by this group. The city gate side has also been properly arranged, just waiting for Lord Zhang’s side to lead people through. Xiaobao is also there—along this route, we shouldn’t lose track of them. It’s just that Meng Yang…”

Xie Wei feared the cold. Unless necessary, he didn’t want to go out in snowy weather.

Seeing snow always made him think of unpleasant things.

At this moment, sitting inside the carriage, he didn’t even lift the curtain. His face appeared pale as jade from the cold. He coolly interrupted Daiqin: “Dangerous people should have dangerous uses. He’s just a small pawn—he can’t ruin major matters.”

Daiqin therefore didn’t dare speak further.

From afar, they could hear some commotion from several streets away.

It quickly quieted down again.

Presumably, after those Heaven Teach members and prison inmates came out from the imperial prison, they passed along nearby streets.

Some people, after escaping, didn’t follow the crowd but quietly disappeared into the darkness, fleeing for their lives alone.

But most of the prisoners who escaped followed the Heaven Teach people, accompanying them through the night toward the west city gate.

Faintly, one could hear someone asking: “Didn’t we agree to go to the east gate?”

Then came Zhang Zhe’s calm reply: “There’s an ambush at the east city gate. Going there means death. If you want to go, then go.”

The crowd suddenly fell quiet.

At the same time, at the entrance to the imperial prison, it was a different scene.

Zhou Yinzhi hadn’t reacted to what was happening at all.

After hiding Jiang Xuening in the most remote cell, he pretended nothing was wrong and went out to check on the Imperial Guards coming to take the Yongyi Marquis household for exile. After things ended, he prepared to return and bring Jiang Xuening out. But unexpectedly, several colleagues from the Ministry of Justice and the Embroidered Uniform Guard pulled him along to drink and gamble in the rear office. Ordinarily, Zhou Yinzhi wouldn’t refuse such things. Today, refusing once didn’t work. Fearing he would leave a flaw, he could only first follow this group into gambling, planning to find an excuse to use the privy after a couple of rounds to return to the prison after getting some information.

But after just two rounds of gambling, shouts of killing filled the air outside.

His whole body trembled. Pressing his blade, he wanted to rush out, but the official in charge of guarding the prison saw this and actually pulled him back down to sit, smiling: “You Embroidered Uniform Guard don’t know, but tonight there’s a big matter happening in this prison. His Majesty has issued an edict—don’t go out, don’t ruin things.”

Looking again at the people from the Three Judicial Offices, each one was calm and composed.

Completely acting as if they hadn’t heard those sounds outside.

Zhou Yinzhi was anxious in his heart but didn’t dare go find Jiang Xuening. Enduring with patience, he took the opportunity to inquire and only then learned that today there was an extremely secret plan, revealed only to a few people. Even the jailers still remaining in the prison didn’t know about it and were prepared to be sacrificed, just waiting for that group to successfully break into the prison!

Then Jiang Xuening…

Zhou Yinzhi didn’t dare think about what might happen inside.

He could only hope that the hiding place he found for Jiang Xuening deep in the prison, and that area in the middle didn’t seem to connect to cells holding prisoners, so unless they searched inside or she came out herself, even if something chaotic happened, the possibility of finding their way inside wasn’t high—perhaps nothing would happen.

Forcing himself to appear calm on the surface, he continued gambling with these people in the rear office.

However, he lost every hand he played.

Some people teased and squeezed him about being scared, but he treated it like wind passing his ears and paid no attention.

Only when the commotion outside the prison died down and someone came in to report the situation did he hurriedly follow everyone out together, re-entering the prison to inspect.

This time his footsteps couldn’t be controlled. He hurriedly rushed toward the depths of the prison.

The closer he got to that cell, the faster his heart beat.

However, when he finally turned the corner and saw that clean cell, he only saw complete emptiness!

Not a single person was in the cell.

All that remained was the women’s clothing that had been hastily shoved under the bed, with one corner exposed from the disordered bedding.

Zhou Yinzhi’s entire head suddenly buzzed, instantly becoming completely blank. As if falling into an ice pit, the blood throughout his body went cold!

Following Zhang Zhe all the way to the west city gate, Jiang Xuening’s head, which had been impacted by these sudden events, finally shed its initial confusion and chaos. The night wind blew, restoring several degrees of clarity.

Going over the sequence of events in her mind.

She couldn’t help but raise her head to look at the figure ahead pulling her hand. In the fierce north wind blowing in her face, his wide palm wrapped around her palm, and from his palm center actually came a bit of damp heat—she didn’t know whether it was his palm that had sweated or her own palm that had sweated.

Why would Zhang Zhe be in the imperial prison?

Why did those people look like they had come to rescue him?

Moreover, just now Zhang Zhe had said there was an ambush outside the east city gate, as if he knew something in advance…

But seeing her involved in this, he seemed quite unhappy and somewhat angry.

Memories from the previous life told Jiang Xuening that this prison break was Heaven Teach’s doing.

As for Zhang Zhe’s character, when he was truly imprisoned, not a single judge dared write a verdict for him. With no other choice, he actually wrote the verdict for himself and determined his own crime—his upright character was evident.

He absolutely couldn’t truly be involved in something like a prison break.

There seemed to be a scheme here that she didn’t yet know about.

She deeply knew that she was probably an accident in this plan, likely bringing trouble to Zhang Zhe. Throughout the journey, she kept her mouth tightly shut and closely followed him, not daring to presumptuously open her mouth to ask a single question.

Fortunately, the atmosphere was tense at this moment, and no one paid attention to her.

That disheveled man who had just torn apart the chains also followed behind like everyone else, completely inconspicuous.

Just after leaving the prison, someone had questioned them. Originally, Heaven Teach’s side had planned to exit through the east city gate, after all, people from their organization had already made arrangements up and down the chain.

But Zhang Zhe actually said there was an ambush there.

The masked person leading Heaven Teach’s side was half-believing, half-doubting, but seeing Zhang Zhe speak with such certainty, he gave a look to the person beside him and simply divided the troops into two routes: regardless of whether there was an ambush or not, there were also Heaven Teach brothers responding at the east city gate, so they should send people to check the situation.

Some of those who had escaped from the cells also followed along.

But the majority of people, especially that group originally imprisoned in the jail, seemed to trust Zhang Zhe quite a bit and all came along to the west city gate.

At this moment, the leading man chuckled, stopped in the shadow of a tall building in the marketplace, and looked at Zhang Zhe with eyes flashing with keen light, actually saying: “I’ve been in the organization for many years, yet I didn’t know there were also court officials who are people from our organization. Lord Zhang is truly remarkable. I wonder which year you entered which incense hall?”

Even facing this group of vicious criminals before him, Zhang Zhe’s expression didn’t change.

Coolly and indifferently, he lifted his eyelids to glance at this man, showing no intention of engaging, only saying: “Is this matter also something you can inquire about? Now that we’ve reached the west city gate, just in case, you send someone to accompany me to the gate to confirm there’s no ambush at the west city gate, then bring people to follow me through the gate.”

That leading man had a scar on his eyebrow, making him look somewhat fierce.

Hearing Zhang Zhe’s words, his eyes grew several degrees colder.

However, at the moment his palm tightly gripped the blade handle, as if thinking of something, he actually didn’t explode but said: “Then I’ll accompany you myself. But Lord Zhang must also give a reason. Our original arrangements were planned well—on what basis do you say there’s an ambush there? Could you be suspecting that people in my incense hall leaked information?”

Within Heaven Teach, what they emphasized was mutual support and trust. Once you entered the organization, you were brothers who would live and die together.

This was the organization’s rule.

Hearing the man’s words, everyone couldn’t help but whisper among themselves, and the looks they gave Zhang Zhe also became somewhat strange.

Zhang Zhe naturally knew this Heaven Teach leader’s words contained dangerous implications, but having entered this situation, safety should be set aside.

Gu Chunfang ultimately had the grace of recognizing his talent toward him.

He calmly replied: “I only ventured into danger to rescue Lord Gongyi. The court released word making us think Lord Gongyi was in the imperial prison, but presumably all of you saw that Lord Gongyi was nowhere to be seen. From this, it’s clear the court has long been prepared for us. Since Lord Gongyi isn’t here, this setup must have an explosion point. Don’t you think breaking into the prison this time was too simple? If I were the court, I would definitely use the strategy to lure the enemy, inviting you into the trap, setting an ambush at the city gate. The east city gate may not truly have an ambush, but if there is one, the east city gate you originally planned to pass through would definitely be a narrow escape from death. If you don’t trust me, you needn’t come with me.”

After saying this, he actually gently released his hand, turned back to look deeply at Jiang Xuening, who had been watching him in silence, and stepped directly toward the city gate direction.

The released palm immediately felt the cold wind blowing through the gaps between fingers.

Jiang Xuening’s heartbeat suddenly tightened, making it somewhat difficult to breathe.

The others also completely hadn’t expected this Lord Zhang to speak like this—not arrogance, but a kind of plainness that naturally stood higher than them.

That Heaven Teach leader’s brow furrowed tightly.

Someone in the crowd muttered: “Sounds very reasonable. When we were imprisoned, this lord had extraordinary connections, secretly asking us about Lord Gongyi’s whereabouts. But how does he dare directly call Lord Gongyi’s name—his courage is truly too great…”

Directly call Lord Gongyi’s name?

Among the crowd, some attentive people with ulterior motives suddenly felt their hearts jump.

One should know that Gongyi Cheng in Heaven Teach was the role of a first-rate strategist beside the leader, with a status higher than the incense hall masters, second only to the leader. Anyone who saw him had to respectfully call him “Lord Gongyi.”

How many people in the organization were qualified to directly call his name?

Just counting on their fingers, they couldn’t help but quietly develop their own thoughts.

As for Zhang Zhe over there, after reaching under the city gate, he naturally couldn’t avoid being questioned. However, those watching from the shadows clearly saw that the nearby soldiers guarding the city all fell silent after seeing it was Zhang Zhe, showing a respectful yet fearful appearance. With just a wave of the hand, they quietly opened the city gate.

Zhang Zhe led people back, saying: “We can leave the city now.”

Everyone felt somewhat incredulous. For a moment, they looked at each other, and no one dared step forward first.

Zhang Zhe glanced at them, said nothing more, and directly stepped toward the city gate.

Jiang Xuening thought for a moment, her eyes rolled, and without another word, she followed.

Since few people had seen her when they were rescued from the prison, and she wore men’s robes, at first glance her back appeared thin but one couldn’t distinguish male from female. Following like this made it seem like there was a first person daring to follow.

The city gate was before their eyes, freedom was before their eyes.

Who could not be moved?

After the first person, there quickly came a second, a third. In a moment, everyone surged forward in a great tide.

The soldiers guarding the city each kept their heads lowered, not looking at them, with not the slightest intention of blocking.

Those behind also followed with half-belief, half-doubt.

It was truly an unprecedented experience: when all these people who normally had to tuck their tails and hide from officials were passing through the city gate calmly and openly, they couldn’t quite believe that they too could have a time when these gate-guarding soldiers respectfully sent them out. There was truly an indescribable exhilaration and excitement in their hearts!

Some people couldn’t help but laugh loudly after passing through the gate.

“Impressive, impressive, Lord Zhang is still the most impressive! This old man has never had such an exhilarating moment in his life!”

“Hahaha, yes! The leader is truly a divine person, to actually hide such a formidable ace in the capital. What a pity it was revealed too late—otherwise, why would we have had to suffer such indignities before?”

“We actually really got out…”

…

That Heaven Teach leader couldn’t help but furrow his brow deeply. Once again, he raised his gaze to carefully examine Zhang Zhe, searching in his memory for clues about that person more mysterious than Lord Gongyi, yet found nothing.

He stepped forward to flatter with a few sentences.

Then he tentatively opened his mouth: “This crude person truly has poor judgment and didn’t know Lord Zhang’s capabilities. I imagine in the organization, you wouldn’t use your current name. I wonder, might you have another alias?”

Zhang Zhe’s gaze immediately cooled several degrees, falling directly on that person’s face.

He actually didn’t speak for a very long time.

Jiang Xuening slightly held her breath.

But Zhang Zhe turned his gaze away again, saying plainly: “No alias. I just never heard that Incense Master Huang, besides being brave and martial, is also a meticulous and suspicious person.”

The moment the three words “Incense Master Huang” came out, Huang Qian’s pupils instantly constricted.

His face was covered, so others couldn’t see, but beneath the face-covering cloth, his complexion had long since changed drastically!

Heaven Teach’s planning of this prison break was also top secret. It was an order personally given by the leader’s side. He had also secretly rushed from Tongzhou to the capital to act as commander, while tonight’s operatives were all summoned from within the capital. Logically, no one should be able to reveal his identity!

This Lord Zhang before him…

A certain guess had already vaguely taken root in his heart earlier. At this moment, it made cold sweat appear on Huang Qian’s forehead.

If he was that person…

He no longer had his former commanding air, didn’t even dare ask another question, and hurriedly bowed: “This subordinate spoke too much.”

Zhang Zhe didn’t speak again.

In the silence, Jiang Xuening’s gaze moved from Huang Qian’s face back to Zhang Zhe’s face, but she discerned some clues. Her eyes couldn’t help but become somewhat strange: He’s impersonating Heaven Teach’s Dujun Mountain Man?

That was actually a good choice.

After all, in the previous life, this Dujun Mountain Man was like a dragon—one could see the head but not the tail. Until Heaven Teach was single-handedly destroyed by Xie Wei and killed completely clean, his exact whereabouts were never revealed. Perhaps he was simply a non-existent person. Impersonating such a person couldn’t be more suitable.

She stood behind Zhang Zhe.

The clothes on her body had been changed, and without the cloak, they were quite thin. When the wind blew outside, she shivered somewhat. Her hands were even more ice-cold. She couldn’t help but raise her head to look at Zhang Zhe for a long while.

But Zhang Zhe stood there as if he had no intention of turning back to hold her hand again.

Jiang Xuening, hidden in the crowd, lightly bit her lip. She only felt that in this lifetime she had never been so timid. Her heart beat violently once more.

She quietly reached out her hand and grasped Zhang Zhe’s hand.

In that instant, Zhang Zhe trembled.

He turned back and met a pair of liquid, bright eyes that clearly showed forced composure. The moment they met his gaze, they even dodged with some shyness, but in the next moment, they looked back with righteous confidence, as if this was perfectly natural.

However, those jade-white earlobes had already turned red as if dyed with rouge.

Zhang Zhe knew he should let go.

However, at this moment, the palm pressed against his was actually so ice-cold. He noticed her thin clothing and the faint trembling between her fingers. In his heart, a bewitching voice suddenly emerged: This is not any secret selfish desire to get close to her. You brought her out, so you should protect her completely. This is not selfish desire.

So he was bewitched.

Allowing that soft, slender palm to hold his, then slowly tightening his own palm, yet carefully not daring to use too much force.